US7248815B2 - Fitting protecting apparatus of developer cartridge and image forming apparatus having the same - Google Patents
Fitting protecting apparatus of developer cartridge and image forming apparatus having the same Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US7248815B2 US7248815B2 US11/036,101 US3610105A US7248815B2 US 7248815 B2 US7248815 B2 US 7248815B2 US 3610105 A US3610105 A US 3610105A US 7248815 B2 US7248815 B2 US 7248815B2
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- housing
- cover member
- fitting
- connection fitting
- cover
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Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
- G03G15/10—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a liquid developer
- G03G15/104—Preparing, mixing, transporting or dispensing developer
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
- G03G15/10—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a liquid developer
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
- G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
- G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
- G03G15/0865—Arrangements for supplying new developer
- G03G15/0875—Arrangements for supplying new developer cartridges having a box like shape
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
- G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
- G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
- G03G15/0877—Arrangements for metering and dispensing developer from a developer cartridge into the development unit
- G03G15/0879—Arrangements for metering and dispensing developer from a developer cartridge into the development unit for dispensing developer from a developer cartridge not directly attached to the development unit
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
- G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
- G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
- G03G15/0877—Arrangements for metering and dispensing developer from a developer cartridge into the development unit
- G03G15/0881—Sealing of developer cartridges
- G03G15/0886—Sealing of developer cartridges by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
- G03G2215/06—Developing structures, details
- G03G2215/066—Toner cartridge or other attachable and detachable container for supplying developer material to replace the used material
- G03G2215/0692—Toner cartridge or other attachable and detachable container for supplying developer material to replace the used material using a slidable sealing member, e.g. shutter
Definitions
- the present invention generally relates to an image forming apparatus, such as a wet-type electrophotographic printer, using liquid developer. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fitting protecting apparatus of a developer cartridge for protecting a connection fitting of a developer cartridge for storing and supplying liquid developer, and to an image forming apparatus having the same.
- An image forming apparatus such as a wet-type electrophotographic printer, typically includes a developer supply system for supplying liquid developer to a developing part.
- the developer supply system may be either a one-body type in which a developer cartridge is formed in one body with a developing part, and a separation type in which a developer cartridge is separated from a developing part through a connection with a connection tube.
- liquid developer is supplied from a developer cartridge to a developing part and is recollected from the developing part to the developer cartridge through a connection tube by using a developer supply pump and/or a developer re-collection pump.
- the developer cartridge is connected to the connection tube through a coupling part such as a fitting.
- FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a general wet-type electrophotographic printer 10 employing a separation type developer supply system.
- the wet-type electrophotographic printer 10 includes an image forming part 11 and a developer supply part 21 .
- the image forming part 11 includes a photoconductive body 1 , such as an OPC drum (Organic Photoconductive Drum), a laser scanning part 33 , a charge part 6 , an antistatic part 7 , a developing part 26 and a cleaning blade 8 . These components mutually work and provide a desired image to the photoconductive body 1 through sequential image formation procedures such as charge, discharge, and exposure and developing procedures.
- a photoconductive body 1 such as an OPC drum (Organic Photoconductive Drum)
- OPC drum Organic Photoconductive Drum
- the developing part 26 includes a developing chamber 27 through which liquid developer 48 flows, a developing roller 2 disposed under the photoconductive body 1 , a deposit roller 5 for applying electric force to the liquid developer 48 to form a charged developer layer around the developing roller 2 , a metering roller 3 for limiting the charged developer layer formed around the developing roller 2 by the deposit roller to a predetermined toner volume or density (percent solid) and to supply the charged developer layer to a nip between the developing roller 2 and the photoconductive body 1 , a cleaning roller 4 for cleaning the developing roller 2 , and a recollection chamber 28 for recollecting liquid developer 48 overflowing from the developing chamber 27 .
- a developer supply part 21 is disposed to supply liquid developer 48 to a developing chamber 27 of the developing part 26 .
- the developer supply part 21 includes a developer cartridge 50 for storing liquid developer 48 , first and second connection tubes 22 and 23 for connecting the developer cartridge 50 to a developing chamber 27 of a developing part 26 , a developer supply pump 18 disposed between the first and second connection tubes 22 and 23 , a developer recollection pump 19 disposed between third and fourth connection tubes 20 and 24 , and a controller 29 for controlling motors of the developer supply pump 18 and the developer recollection pump 19 .
- the developer cartridge 50 includes a housing 12 provided as a developer storage space for storing liquid developer 48 , and a liquid developer agitator 35 for agitating the liquid developer 48 within the housing 12 .
- a first developer discharge part 17 and a first developer influx part 16 are installed on an upper part of the housing 12 .
- the first developer discharge part 17 is connected to a second developer influx part 13 of a developing chamber 27 of a developing part through first and second connection tubes 22 and 23 , to supply liquid developer 48 of a housing 10 to the developing chamber 27 .
- the first developer influx part 16 is connected to a second developer discharge part 14 of a recollection chamber 28 of the developing part 26 through third and fourth connection tubes 20 and 24 , to recollect the liquid developer 48 from a recollection chamber 2 .
- the first developer discharge part 17 includes a first female fitting 17 a , a developer suction tube 40 , and a first male fitting 17 b .
- the first female fitting 17 a is disposed on the housing 12 .
- the developer suction tube 40 is extended from the first female fitting 17 a to the bottom of the housing 12 .
- the first male fitting 17 b is disposed at the end of the first connection tube to couple with the first female fitting 17 a when the housing 12 is accommodated in a printer body (not shown).
- the first developer influx part 16 includes a second female fitting 16 a and a second male fitting 16 b , as in the first developer discharge part 17 .
- a configuration of the second female fitting 16 a and the second male fitting 16 b is the same as the construction of the first female fitting 17 a and the first male fitting 17 b , except that the suction tube 40 is not connected to the second female fitting 16 a.
- a first female fitting 17 a of a first developer discharge part 17 and a second female fitting 16 a of a first developer influx part 16 are exposed. Developer stains on portions of the exposed first and second female fittings 17 a and 16 a are exposed to a user, and portions of the exposed first and second female fittings 17 a and 16 a may become polluted by outside foreign substances, such as dust and the like, or portions of the first and second female fittings 17 a and 16 a exposed in handling the developer cartridge 50 may be damaged by falling or an external collision.
- the user may be further transfer such developer and secondarily pollute or stain other components of the printer.
- first and second female fittings 17 a and 16 a are damaged by outside collision, a sealing state between a first female fitting 17 a and a first male fitting 17 b of a first developer discharge part 17 and between a second female fitting 16 a and a second male fitting 16 b of a first developer influx part 16 is not optimal, thus causing leakage of liquid developer 48 and polluting its periphery.
- a fitting protecting apparatus of a developer cartridge includes a housing that stores liquid developer and that has at least one connection fitting connected to an outside corresponding connection fitting.
- a cover part is movably disposed between a first position of sealing the connection fitting to not be exposed when not connected and a second position of opening a connection fitting, the cover part being disposed in the housing.
- An operation part moves the cover part between the first and second positions.
- the cover part is constructed of a cover member covering a connection fitting.
- a support member supports the cover member to the housing so that the cover member rotatably moves between the first position and the second position.
- the cover member may be constructed of a plate larger than a flat area of a connection fitting, and the support member may be desirably constructed of a support axis fixed to the housing.
- a support axis hole is formed in the cover member and is adapted to receive and support the support axis.
- the operation part is constructed of a pinion gear formed in one end part of the cover member.
- a rack member has a rack gear engaging the pinion gear, thereby rotatably moving the cover member.
- the rack member may be substantially immovably fixed to a main body of an image forming apparatus. That is, when the housing is installed in or taken out of the main body of the image forming apparatus, the rack member rotatably moves the cover member between the first and second positions by rotatably moving the pinion gear engaging the rack gear through use of a movement force of the housing.
- the rack member may be installed to move in the housing, instead of being fixed to the main body.
- the rack member moves by a force applied by a user when an outside corresponding connection fitting is connected to or disconnected from a connection fitting of the housing, thus a pinion gear engaging with a rack gear moves rotatably, thereby rotatably moving the cover member between first and second positions.
- the operation part may be constructed of a protrusion formed in one end part of the cover member, and a corresponding protrusion member that engages with the protrusion, thereby rotatably moving the cover member.
- the fitting protecting apparatus of the invention may further include a return part for returning the cover member of the cover part from a second position to a first position when the housing is taken out of a main body of an image forming apparatus or when the outside corresponding connection fitting is disconnected from a connection fitting of the housing.
- the return part is constructed of an elastic spring which is installed in the housing and of which one end part is supported by a first support boss formed in the housing and another end part is supported by a second support boss formed in the cover member.
- the return part may be constructed of an elastic spring which is installed in the support member of the cover part and of which one end part is supported by a first support boss formed in the housing and another end part is supported by a second support boss formed in the cover member.
- the fitting protecting apparatus of the invention may further include an exterior cover member that is installed in the housing to prevent exposing the cover part and the return part when outside.
- the exterior cover member has an aperture exposing a connection fitting in the outside so that an outside corresponding connection fitting is connected to a connection fitting.
- an image forming apparatus includes an image forming part having a developing part forming an image by using liquid developer.
- a developer cartridge has a housing that has at least one connection fitting connected to a corresponding connection fitting of at least one connection tube that is connected to the developing part so as to supply liquid developer to the developing part.
- the developer cartridge includes a cover part disposed in the housing to be moved between a first position of sealing a connection fitting to prevent being exposed and a second position of opening a connection fitting.
- a fitting protecting part has an operation part for moving the cover part to the second position when an outside corresponding fitting is connected to a connection fitting of the housing and that covers a connection fitting.
- the cover part is constructed of a cover member covering a connection fitting, and a support member supporting the cover member to the housing so as to rotatably move the cover member between a first position and a second position.
- the cover member may be constructed of a plate larger than a flat area of a connection fitting, and the support member may be constructed of a support axis fixed to the housing.
- a support axis hole is formed in the cover member, and is adapted to receive and support the support axis.
- the operation part is constructed of a pinion gear formed in one end part of the cover member; and a rack member having a rack gear engaging the pinion gear, thus rotatably moving the cover member.
- the rack member may be substantially immovably fixed to a main body. That is, when the developer cartridge is installed in or taken out of the main body, the rack member rotatably moves the cover member between the first and second positions by rotatably moving the pinion gear engaging the rack gear through use of a movement force of the housing.
- the rack member may be installed to move by a predetermined distance in the housing, instead of being fixed to the main body.
- the rack member moves by an external force when an outside corresponding connection fitting is connected to or disconnected from a connection fitting of the housing, thereby rotatably moving a pinion gear engaging a rack gear to rotatably move the cover member between first and second positions.
- the operation part may be constructed of a protrusion formed in one end part of the cover member, and a corresponding protrusion member that engages the protrusion, thereby rotatably moving the cover member.
- the fitting protecting part of the invention may further include a return part returning the cover member of the cover part from a second position to a first position when the developer cartridge is taken out of a main body of an image forming apparatus or when the outside corresponding connection fitting is disconnected from a connection fitting of the housing.
- the return part is constructed of an elastic spring that is installed in the housing and of which one end part is supported by a first support boss formed in the housing and another end part is supported by a second support boss formed in the cover member.
- the return part may be constructed of an elastic spring that is installed in the support member of the cover part and of which one end part is supported by a first support boss formed in the housing and another end part is supported by a second support boss formed in the cover member.
- the fitting protecting part of the invention further includes an exterior cover member that is installed in the housing prevent exposing the cover part and the return part.
- the exterior cover member has an aperture exposing a connection fitting in the outside so that an outside corresponding connection fitting is connected to a connection fitting.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a conventional wet-type electrophotographic printer
- FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a developer cartridge of a wet-type electrophotographic printer shown in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a developer supply part of a wet-type electrophotographic printer employing a fitting protecting apparatus of a developer cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fitting protecting apparatus of a developer cartridge shown in FIG. 3 ;
- FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views of a fitting protecting apparatus of a developer cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an operation part connected to a fitting protecting apparatus of a developer cartridge shown in FIG. 4 ;
- FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an operation part connected to a fitting protecting apparatus of a developer cartridge shown in FIG. 4 .
- a wet-type electrophotographic printer employing a fitting protecting apparatus 200 of a developer cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes an image forming part (not shown) and a developer supply part 100 .
- a configuration of an image forming part is similar to the configuration of the wet-type electrophotographic printer 10 described above referring to FIG. 1 , thus its detailed description is omitted.
- FIG. 3 illustrates a developer supply part 100 of a wet-type electrophotographic printer to which a fitting protecting apparatus 200 of a developer cartridge is applied.
- the developer supply part 100 includes a developer cartridge 150 storing liquid developer 148 , first and second connection tubes 122 and 123 for connecting the developer cartridge 150 to a developing chamber 127 of a developing part 126 , a developer supply pump 118 disposed between the first and second connection tubes 122 and 123 and driven by a motor 129 , and a third connection tube 124 for connecting the developer cartridge 150 to a recollection chamber 128 of the developing part 126 .
- the developer cartridge 150 is directly connected to the recollection chamber 128 of the developing part 126 through the third connection tube 124 , the developer cartridge 150 may be installed over the recollection chamber 128 .
- the developer cartridge 150 is connected to the recollection chamber 128 of the developing part 126 through third and fourth connection tubes 20 and 24 and a developer recollection pump 19 disposed therebetween, as in the printer 10 described with reference to FIG. 1 .
- the developer cartridge 150 includes a housing 101 provided as a developer storage spacer for storing liquid developer 148 , and a liquid developer agitator 135 for agitating liquid developer 48 within the housing 101 .
- a handle 109 ( FIG. 4 ) is disposed adapted to be grasped by a user.
- a concave part is formed on one side of a top plate 101 a of the housing 101 near the sidewall 101 b in which the handle 109 is disposed.
- a first developer discharge part 170 and a first developer influx part 160 are disposed in the concave part 105 .
- the first developer discharge part 170 and the first developer influx part 160 are spaced apart with a determined interval therebetween, and are preferably askew with respect to one another.
- the first developer discharge part 170 is connected to a second developer influx part 113 of a developing chamber 127 through first and second connection tubes 122 and 123 to supply liquid developer 148 of the housing 101 to the developing chamber 127 .
- the first developer influx part 160 is connected to a second developer discharge part 114 of the recollection chamber 128 of the developing part 126 through a third connection tube 124 to recollect the liquid developer 148 from the recollection chamber 128 .
- the first developer discharge part 170 includes a first female fitting 180 disposed in the concave part 105 of the top plate 101 a of the housing 101 and a first male fitting 171 adapted in an end part of the first connection tube 122 .
- the first male fitting 171 being opposite to and being connected to the first female fitting 180 .
- the first male fitting 171 is supported to be elastically engaged with a frame 107 ( FIG. 4 ) of a printer body (not shown) by a well-known fitting elevator (not shown) operating in association with an open and close operation of an external cover (not shown) of the printer or operating by a sensor (not shown) for sensing an open and close operation of the external cover.
- a fitting elevator not shown
- the first male fitting 171 is lifted by the fitting elevator and is then disconnected from the first female fitting 180 .
- the external cover is closed, the first male fitting 171 descends by the fitting elevator and is then connected to the first female fitting 180 .
- the first male fitting 171 may be adapted to be pressed and supported to a first female fitting 180 by an elastic member (not shown), such as an elastic spring. In this case, the first male fitting 171 is connected to or disconnected from the first female fitting 180 manually by a user.
- the first female fitting 180 is sealed by an inventive fitting protecting apparatus 200 , which is described below, when the housing 101 is taken out of the frame 107 of a printer body for maintenance of the developer cartridge 150 or during storage of the developer cartridge while not in use.
- the first female fitting 180 includes a first female fitting tube 181 fixedly installed to the concave part 105 , and a developer suction tube 140 extended from a lower part of the first female fitting tube 181 to a bottom of the housing 101 .
- a substantially T-shaped valve plate 183 is disposed within the first female fitting tube 181 of the first female fitting 180 and is elastically pressurized by a first elastic spring 184 .
- the first male fitting 171 includes a first male fitting tube 172 having an internal connection ring part 172 a that is locked with an outer connection ring part 181 a of the first female fitting tube 181 when the first male fitting 171 is connected to the first female fitting 180 in a lower part.
- an internal connection tube 175 and a second packing member 173 are disposed.
- the internal connection tube 175 is connected to a first connection tube 122 .
- the internal connection tube 175 has a liquid developer suction aperture 176 for sucking liquid developer 148 flowing through a lower aperture 185 of the first female fitting tube 180 .
- a second packing member 173 is pressurized toward a lower side elastically by a second elastic spring 174 .
- the second packing member 173 is provided with a girth of the internal connection tube 175 to seal the liquid developer suction aperture 176 to substantially prevent leakage of the liquid developer 148 from the first connection tube 122 through the liquid developer suction aperture 176 of the internal connection tube 175 .
- the liquid developer 148 may be supplied from the developer suction tube 140 of the housing 101 to the first connection tube 122 through the lower aperture 185 of the first fitting tube 181 and the liquid developer suction aperture 176 of the internal connection tube 175 .
- the first developer influx part 160 includes a second female fitting 180 ′ installed in the concave part 105 of the top plate 101 a of the housing 101 ,
- a second male fitting 171 ′ is installed in an end part of the third connection tube 124 , and is substantially opposite to the second female fitting 180 ′ to be connected to the second female fitting 180 ′.
- Configuration and operation of the second female fitting 180 ′ is substantially similar to the first female fitting 180 of the first developer supply part 170 , except that a liquid developer discharge aperture 187 is provided at an outer circumferential face of the second female fitting tube 181 ′ instead of the developer suction tube 140 being provided at a lower part thereof of the first female fitting 180 of the first developer discharge part 170 .
- Configuration and operation of the second male fitting 171 ′ is substantially similar to the first male fitting 171 of the first developer supply part 170 .
- the fitting protecting apparatus 200 of the developer cartridge includes a cover part 210 for sealing or opening first and second female fittings 180 and 180 ′ of a developer cartridge 150 , and an operation part 220 operating the cover part 210 to seal or open the first and second female fittings 180 and 180 ′.
- the cover part 210 includes a cover member 211 for covering the first and second female fittings 180 and 180 ′ formed in the concave part 105 .
- a support member 215 supports the cover member 211 for rotatable movement thereof in the concave part 105 .
- the cover member 211 is supported by the support member 215 and rotates between a first position ( FIG. 5A ) and a second position ( FIG. 5B ). The first position seals the first and second female fittings 180 and 180 ′ so as not to be exposed and the second position opens the first and second female fittings 180 and 180 ′ to be exposed.
- the cover member 211 is preferably formed in a longish oval plate larger than a flat area sum of the first and second female fittings 180 and 180 ′ to cover the first and second female fittings 180 and 180 ′, as shown in FIG. 5A .
- the cover member 211 is substantially tear-drop shaped.
- the oval plate is constructed of an extension face 211 a for covering the first and second female fittings 180 and 180 ′, and a reduction face 211 b in which a support axis hole 218 of the support member 215 , which is described later, and a pinion gear 221 of the operation part 220 are formed.
- the support member 215 is constructed of a support axis 216 formed near the first female fitting 180 in the concave part 105 , and the support axis hole 218 in which the support axis 216 is inserted and supported.
- the support axis hole is formed in the reduction face 211 a of the cover member 211 .
- the support axis 216 has a base 216 a ( FIG. 3 ) fixedly supported to the concave part 105 , and an upper end part 216 b supported in an aperture 257 ( FIG. 4 ) formed in a square shape plate 251 of an exterior cover member 250 described later.
- the base 216 a supports the cover member 211 a predetermined distance from a bottom of the concave part 105 , thus providing an operation space for a toggle spring 231 of a return part 230 and a second support boss 243 ( FIG. 3 ) supporting a second end part 231 b of the toggle spring 231 .
- the operation part 220 operates to move the cover member 211 of the cover part 210 between the first position and the second position when the developer cartridge 150 is installed in or taken out of the frame 107 , or when first and second male fittings 171 and 171 ′ are connected with or disconnected from the first and second female fittings 180 and 180 ′.
- the operation part 220 includes a pinion gear 221 formed in an outer edge of the reduction face 211 b of the cover member 211 , and a rack member 225 having a rack gear 227 that engages the pinion gear 221 to rotate the cover member 211 .
- the rack member 225 is rigidly fixed to the frame 107 of the printer body through use of fixation members 229 , such as screws.
- fixation members 229 such as screws.
- the rack member 225 rotates the pinion gear 221 engaging the rack gear 227 by using a movement force of the housing 101 , thereby rotating the cover member 211 between the first position shown in FIG. 5A and the second position shown in FIG. 5B .
- the rack member 225 and the frame 107 are slidingly contact a slide flute 260 along an edge of one side of the housing top plate 101 a.
- the rack member 225 may be installed in the housing 101 to be slidable a predetermined distance along the slide flute 260 of the housing 101 when the rack gear 227 engages the pinion gear 221 instead of being fixed to the frame 107 of the printer body.
- the rack member 225 slides along the slide flute 260 by pushing or pulling force of a user, thus rotating the pinion gear 221 engaging the rack gear 227 and rotating the cover member 211 between the first and second positions.
- the fitting protecting apparatus 200 of the developer cartridge may further include a return part 230 for returning the cover member 211 of the cover part 210 from the second position ( FIG. 5B ) to the first position ( FIG. 5A ) when the housing 101 is taken out of the frame 107 , or when the first and second male fittings 171 and 171 ′ are disconnected from the first and second female fittings 180 and 180 ′.
- the return part 230 has a toggle spring 231 in which a center part 231 b is movably supported to a fixation boss 242 formed in the concave part 105 of the housing 101 in the vicinity of the second female fitting 180 ′.
- One end part 231 a of the toggle spring 231 is supported to the first support boss 241 formed in the vicinity of the second female fitting 180 ′ distanced from the fixation boss 242 .
- Another end part 231 c is supported to a second support boss 243 ( FIG. 3 ) formed in a lower face of the extension face 211 a of the cover member 211 .
- the return part 230 may be constructed of a compression spring (not shown) in which a center part is rotatably supported by the support axis 216 of the support member 211 instead of having the toggle spring 231 rotatably supported by the fixation boss 242 .
- one end part of the compression spring is supported to a first support boss (not shown) formed in the concave part 105 and another end part is supported to a second boss (not shown) formed in a lower face of the extension face 211 a of the cover member 211 .
- the fitting protecting apparatus 200 of the developer cartridge further includes an exterior cover member 250 for sealing up the concave part 105 of the housing 101 in which the cover part 210 and the return part 230 are installed so as not to expose it.
- the exterior cover member 250 is constructed of a square shape plate 251 having first, second and third protrusion edges 251 a , 251 b and 251 c , which extend a predetermined height toward the concave part 105 to provide the installation and operation space for the toggle spring 231 of the return part 230 and the cover member 211 on the concave part 105 of the housing 101 .
- the square shape plate 251 is fixed to a corresponding fixation part 255 ′ of the concave part 105 through a fixation member 255 such as screw.
- a cut open part 251 b is formed to be connected with the slide flute 260 .
- the cut open part 251 b exposes the pinion gear 221 of the operation part 220 formed in the reduction face 211 b of the cover member 211 to the outside and provides a space in which the rack member 225 of the operation part 220 may slide.
- the square shape plate 251 has first and second circular apertures 252 and 253 for exposing the first and second female fittings 180 and 180 ′ in the outside.
- the first and second circular apertures 252 and 253 are formed corresponding to the first and second female fittings 180 and 180 ′ so that the first and second male fittings 171 and 171 ′ are connected with the first and second female fittings 180 and 180 ′.
- the exterior cover member 250 seals the cover part 210 and the return part 230 to prevent exposing them, thereby components of the printer body, including the first and second male fittings 171 and 171 ′, are prevented from being contacted with the toggle spring 231 of the return part 230 and the cover member 211 when the developer 150 is installed in or taken out of the frame 107 .
- the operation part 220 has the pinion gear 221 and the rack member 225 having the rack gear 227 ; as shown in FIG. 7 , the operation part may be constructed of a protrusion 221 ′ formed in an outer edge of the reduction face 211 b and a corresponding protrusion member 225 ′ that extends toward the protrusion 221 ′ to engage the protrusion 221 ′.
- the fitting protecting apparatus 200 of the developer cartridge 150 had the first and second female fittings 180 and 180 ′ formed on the top plate 101 a of the housing 101 ; the invention is not so limited.
- one of the first and second female fittings 180 and 180 ′ is installed in the top plate 101 a of the housing 101 and another is installed in a sidewall 101 b , it may be configured to cover only the female fitting installed in the top plate 101 a.
- the fitting protecting apparatus 200 of the developer cartridge seals the first and second female fittings 180 and 180 ′ when the housing 101 is taken out of the frame 107 of the printer body for maintenance of the developer cartridge 150 or while the developer cartridge is being stored, thereby preventing a user from being exposed to developer and other components from being polluted secondarily through the first and second female fittings 180 and 180 ′.
- the first and second female fittings 180 and 180 ′ are prevented from being polluted with foreign substances and debris, such as dust, or from being damaged by an external collision.
- FIGS. 3 through 6 An operation of a wet-type electrophotographic printer having such a fitting protecting apparatus 200 of a developer cartridge will be described referring to FIGS. 3 through 6 .
- first and second male fittings 171 and 171 ′ are lifted to a position not obstructing a movement of the developer cartridge 150 , through a fitting elevator operating in association with an open and close operation of the external cover.
- the developer cartridge 150 is caught by a handle 109 of a housing 101 and then is pushed in a direction indicated by arrow A into the frame 107 of the printer body, as shown in FIGS. 5B and 6 .
- a cover member 211 is positioned on a first position of sealing up first and second apertures 252 and 253 of a square shape plate 251 to substantially prevent exposing first and second female fittings 180 and 180 ′, particularly when the developer cartridge is not installed in the printer.
- a pinion gear 221 disposed on a reduction face 211 b of the cover member 211 engages a rack gear 227 of a rack member 225 fixed to the frame 107 , thereby rotating the cover member 211 clockwise about a support axis 216 and against an elastic force of toggle spring 231 of a return part 230 .
- the cover member 211 is moved from a first position to a second position, and the first and second apertures 252 and 253 of the exterior cover member 250 are accessible.
- first and second female fittings 180 and 180 ′ are positioned under first and second male fittings 171 and 171 ′ that are lifted by a fitting elevator.
- first and second male fittings 171 and 171 ′ descend by the fitting elevator operating in association with an open and close operation of the external cover and are then inserted into the first and second apertures 252 and 253 .
- the first and second male fittings 171 and 171 ′ are connected respectively with the first and second female fittings 180 and 180 ′.
- a second packing member 173 is pushed up by first and second female fitting tubes 181 and 181 ′ to open a liquid developer suction aperture 176 of an internal connection tube 175 .
- a substantially T-shaped valve plate 183 is pushed up into the interior of the first and second female fitting tubes 181 and 181 ′ by the internal connection tube 175 .
- liquid developer 148 is supplied from a developer suction tube 140 of the housing 101 to a first connection tube 122 through a lower aperture 185 of the first female tube 181 and a liquid developer suction aperture 176 of the internal connection tube 175 , or is recollected from a third connection tube 124 to the interior of the housing 101 through the liquid developer suction aperture 176 of the internal connection tube 175 , the lower aperture 185 of the second female fitting tube 181 ′ and a liquid developer discharge aperture 187 .
- the first and second male fittings 171 and 171 ′ are disconnected from the first and second female fittings 180 and 180 ′ by a fitting elevator operating in association with an open and close operation of the external cover, and are then lifted toward the outside of the first and second apertures 252 and 253 of the exterior cover member 250 .
- the housing 101 of the developer cartridge 150 is taken out of the frame 107 by a handle 109 being pulled by a user in a direction indicated by arrow B, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 6 .
- the cover member 211 When the housing 101 is taken out of the frame 107 , the cover member 211 is rotated counterclockwise by a pinion gear 221 engaging a rack gear 227 of a rack member 225 to move the cover member 211 from a second position shown in FIG. 5B to a first position shown in FIG. 5A . Hence, as shown in FIG. 4 , the first and second apertures 252 and 253 of the exterior cover member 250 are sealed by the cover member 211 .
- a toggle spring 231 of the return part 230 helps the cover member 211 move to a first position. After the cover member 211 reaches the first position, the toggle spring substantially maintains the cover member in the first position.
- female fittings connected to male fittings of connection tubes are sealed and protected when the developer cartridge is taken out of a main body of the image forming apparatus for maintenance or while being stored.
- Developer exposure through the female fittings is substantially prevented.
- Pollution of female fittings with foreign substances and debris, such as dust, and damage of female fittings by an outside collision are also substantially prevented. That is, when dealing with a developer cartridge, a user's secondary pollution of components through developer exposure, image-quality deterioration through pollution of liquid developer, and leakage of liquid developer may be prevented.
- an operation part operating a cover part has a simplified structure of operating by using a movement force provided when a developer cartridge is installed in or taken out of a main body, or manually by a force exerted by a user, thereby providing an easy operation without obstructing a connection or disconnection operation between male fittings and female fittings.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Wet Developing In Electrophotography (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (24)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR2004-57372 | 2004-07-22 | ||
KR1020040057372A KR100541959B1 (en) | 2004-07-22 | 2004-07-22 | Fitting protecting apparatus of developer cartridge and image forming apparatus having the same |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20060018685A1 US20060018685A1 (en) | 2006-01-26 |
US7248815B2 true US7248815B2 (en) | 2007-07-24 |
Family
ID=35657292
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US11/036,101 Active 2025-10-06 US7248815B2 (en) | 2004-07-22 | 2005-01-18 | Fitting protecting apparatus of developer cartridge and image forming apparatus having the same |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US7248815B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR100541959B1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
KR20150098421A (en) * | 2014-02-20 | 2015-08-28 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Cartridge unit and electrophotographic image forming apparatus having the same |
JP6173263B2 (en) * | 2014-06-27 | 2017-08-02 | 京セラドキュメントソリューションズ株式会社 | Image forming apparatus |
Citations (12)
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US5083158A (en) * | 1989-10-25 | 1992-01-21 | Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Photoconductive cartridge having shutter locking device for holding opening of the cartridge in closed position |
KR950034299A (en) | 1994-03-10 | 1995-12-28 | 미셸 로쉐 | Sheathed cable with improved flexibility and method of manufacturing the same |
KR960017517A (en) | 1994-11-08 | 1996-06-17 | 김만제 | Method for producing needle-shaped hematite powder with excellent particle characteristics |
US5686985A (en) * | 1994-08-31 | 1997-11-11 | Kyocera Corporation | Toner container and developing device with the same toner container assembled therein |
US5729796A (en) * | 1994-04-28 | 1998-03-17 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Shutter having first and second shutter members, process cartridge and image forming apparatus having the shutter |
US5974287A (en) * | 1998-03-30 | 1999-10-26 | Xerox Corporation | Non-contacting photoreceptor cover |
US6438345B1 (en) * | 1999-03-29 | 2002-08-20 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Toner supplying container and image forming apparatus |
JP2003200592A (en) | 2003-02-07 | 2003-07-15 | Seiko Epson Corp | Ink cartridge |
JP2003326734A (en) | 2002-05-16 | 2003-11-19 | Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | Ink cartridge |
US20050201777A1 (en) * | 2004-03-11 | 2005-09-15 | Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha | Photoconductive drum device |
US20050238389A1 (en) * | 2004-04-22 | 2005-10-27 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Agitator, image forming apparatus having the same and method for agitating |
US20060062601A1 (en) * | 2004-09-23 | 2006-03-23 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Developer cartridge and liquid-type image forming apparatus |
-
2004
- 2004-07-22 KR KR1020040057372A patent/KR100541959B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
2005
- 2005-01-18 US US11/036,101 patent/US7248815B2/en active Active
Patent Citations (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US5083158A (en) * | 1989-10-25 | 1992-01-21 | Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Photoconductive cartridge having shutter locking device for holding opening of the cartridge in closed position |
KR950034299A (en) | 1994-03-10 | 1995-12-28 | 미셸 로쉐 | Sheathed cable with improved flexibility and method of manufacturing the same |
US5729796A (en) * | 1994-04-28 | 1998-03-17 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Shutter having first and second shutter members, process cartridge and image forming apparatus having the shutter |
US5686985A (en) * | 1994-08-31 | 1997-11-11 | Kyocera Corporation | Toner container and developing device with the same toner container assembled therein |
KR960017517A (en) | 1994-11-08 | 1996-06-17 | 김만제 | Method for producing needle-shaped hematite powder with excellent particle characteristics |
US5974287A (en) * | 1998-03-30 | 1999-10-26 | Xerox Corporation | Non-contacting photoreceptor cover |
US6438345B1 (en) * | 1999-03-29 | 2002-08-20 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Toner supplying container and image forming apparatus |
JP2003326734A (en) | 2002-05-16 | 2003-11-19 | Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | Ink cartridge |
JP2003200592A (en) | 2003-02-07 | 2003-07-15 | Seiko Epson Corp | Ink cartridge |
US20050201777A1 (en) * | 2004-03-11 | 2005-09-15 | Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha | Photoconductive drum device |
US20050238389A1 (en) * | 2004-04-22 | 2005-10-27 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Agitator, image forming apparatus having the same and method for agitating |
US20060062601A1 (en) * | 2004-09-23 | 2006-03-23 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Developer cartridge and liquid-type image forming apparatus |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
KR100541959B1 (en) | 2006-01-10 |
US20060018685A1 (en) | 2006-01-26 |
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